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Balkan Trust for Democracy Bulletin – Fall 2006 October 01, 2006

Letter from the Executive Director, Fall 2006

Dear Friends,

We at the Balkan Trust for Democracy celebrate the beginning of our fourth year of grantmaking. With over 357 proposals reviewed and 156 grants made, fiscal year 2006 was our most productive yet. Together with our donors, partners, and grantees, we reaffirmed our dedication to strengthening democracy throughout the region, and look forward to continuing to do so for years to come.

BTD is honored to announce the receipt of a generous gift from the Compagnia di San Paolo, a private foundation located in Turin, Italy. We are fortunate to name this exemplary organization, whose work in the civic, cultural, and economic spheres is commendable, as one of our partners. Along with the Tipping Point Foundation from Bulgaria, this is the second private European foundation that has joined the Balkan Trust.

Today, there is more reason than ever to believe that the Balkans is making headway toward Euroatlantic integration. Indeed, these are exciting times in the Balkans. The Adriatic Charter Meeting in Dubrovnik from July 7-9 brought together representatives from Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia, illustrating regional cooperation and resolve to work toward a shared goal, in this case NATO accession. Recent elections held in Macedonia signify the growing maturity of the electoral process in which decisions are made democratically and are carried out peacefully. The electorate in newly independent Montenegro followed suit, while citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina will get their chance to put democracy into practice on October 1. Serbia is presented with the opportunity to prove its adherence to European values by working on compliance with the requirements of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Its new action plan to apprehend suspected war criminals illustrates its willingness to uphold the tenants of international law. Yet only concrete results of this plan will aid the pursuit of justice. Ongoing negotiations regarding the status of Kosovo, sparking debate and not violence, are further evidence of the region's headway. The final stages of this negotiation process and arrival at a solution require much prudence, moderation, and democratic leadership on the part of the actors involved.

This newsletter shows that the Balkans are progressively moving away from past instability and seeking paths toward an inclusive democracy. But many difficult challenges remain, and the activities of local communities and societies, citizens and governments shall address them with the assistance of a family of international donors, of which BTD is an integral part.

Best wishes,

Ivan Vejvoda

Executive Director

BTD News

Compagnia di San Paolo Partners with BTD
The Compagnia di San Paolo, one of Europe's largest private foundations, has joined the ranks of the Balkan Trust for Democracy's donor community.  The Compagnia's generous contribution to BTD's 2006-2007 grantmaking activities is further evidence of the transatlantic community's long-term commitment to the Balkans.  Founded in 1563, the Compagnia di San Paolo fosters civil, cultural, and economic development on both a local and international scale.  BTD applauds the Compagnia di San Paolo on its past work and support of our grantmaking, and looks forward to a productive relationship.

Black Sea Trust to Launch in Early 2007
The German Marshall Fund (GMF) has announced the creation of the Black Sea Trust (BST), set to launch early next year.  In order to harness the tremendous civic energy that exists within the Black Sea region as a force for regional integration and good governance, BST will fund programs that strengthen cross-border ties, civic participation, democratic governance, and the rule of law in the region.  Modeled on the Balkan Trust for Democracy, the Black Sea Trust will be launched as a 10-year grantmaking initiative, likely headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, and operating in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine.

Montenegro Holds First General Elections
Seventy percent of voters cast their ballots on Septemeber 10 in Montenegro's first parliamentary and local elections.  The incumbent prime minister, after having led the country in the referendum to independence, won an absolute majority, which bodes well for a stable government.  Opposition votes were divided among three parties, creating a strong opposition.  Responsibility now lies with the new government to move Europe's newest state forward, regarding both reform and EU ascension.

Parliamentary Elections Mark Peaceful Transition in Macedonia
On July 5, Macedonian voters went to the polls to elect a new parliament.  Fifty-six percent of the people voted in an election that was deemed free and fair, with only minor irregularities.  Resulting in the formation of a new government and an overall peaceful transition, this election is an important step in Macedonia's path to EU accession.  BTD supported the Macedonian Women's Lobby-Gender Task Force, working with the National Democratic Institute and Citizen's Association MOST in their Code of Conduct Campaign of political parties' practices, thereby increasing civic trust in the elections, as well as greater participation of women.

BTD Grantee MANS Teams Up with Transparency International to Fight Corruption in Montenegro

On June 1, Transparency International (TI), the global coalition against corruption, signed a partnership agreement with MANS, Montenegro's leading anti-corruption NGO. Corruption is a major impediment to democracy in this fledgling state and contributes to Montenegro's inequitable wealth gap (now the largest in the region). "MANS has already achieved excellent results by raising awareness about corruption," said Catherine Woollard, Program Manager at the TI Secretariat. Now, with TI's network of nearly 100 local chapters, MANS will gain greater strength and stability. Together they will work on projects that increase the transparency of the privatization process, advance freedom of information, and combat conflict of interest in the public sector. BTD has supported MANS in its efforts to create an environment in which civil society organizations function and congratulates them on their alliance to better serve this purpose.

BTD Hosts Three GMF Tours of Balkans

U.S. Congressional Staff Meet Leading Opinion Makers
BTD hosted a 10-member bipartisan Congressional Staff Study Tour to Belgrade, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Pristina, and Podgorica from July 2-10.  The delegation met with high-level government officials, leaders of civil society, and the media.  This was a rare opportunity for members of congressional staff to learn about the Balkans first-hand, especially in light of developments affecting the region: Montenegrin independence, Kosovo negotiations, and Bosnian elections, among others.  Upon their return home, the delegates provided invaluable information to better inform U.S. politicians in their efforts to make knowledgeable, fact-based decisions regarding the region.

Journalists Feature Balkan Issues in Foreign Press
Eight journalists from the United States and Europe participated in the GMF Journalism Study Tour of the Balkans from May 2-7.  The trip raised the profile of the region among journalists at a time when the focus of foreign affairs reporting lies primarily in the Middle East.  Journalists traveled to Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro, where BTD organized meetings with leading civic activists, politicians, and members of the media. Through these interactions the visiting journalists gained a nuanced perspective of the challenges facing the region.  The tour was an eye-opening experience for all involved, and resulted in a number of articles and radio pieces in the journalists' home countries.  For example, freedom of movement was a topic of frequent discussion, with particular emphasis on the difficulty young people face when attempting to obtain visas to the EU or the U.S.  These discussions resulted in a radio piece on Chicago Public Radio, as well as a week-long series on similar cases in other regions of the world.

Jerome McDonnell, Trapped People series, Worldview, June 26-30

Click here for links to additional articles

American Marshall Memorial Fellows Create Transatlantic Network
BTD welcomed and hosted a group of seven 2006 American Marshall Memorial Fellows (AMMF) in Belgrade from June 16-21.

The trip was an opportunity for this diverse group of young professionals, all emerging leaders in their fields, to learn from those on the other side of the Atlantic from the business, government, political, NGO, and media sectors.  The fellows visited with numerous BTD grantees, including Group 484, the Humanitarian Law Center, and the Jefferson Institute...

Travel Broadens the Mind
200 of Serbia's top students were given the opportunity to discover Europe for the first time this summer. European Movement in Serbia, in cooperation with EuroInitiative, the Austrian Embassy, and the Belgrade City Assembly, organized the second annual public competition for the BTD-supported project, Travel to Europe. The project enabled the students to obtain free Schengen Visas to travel to EU countries of their choice. Priority was given to candidates who had not previously traveled abroad...

First Balkan Countries Added to GMF Transatlantic Trends
GMF's Transatlantic Trends expanded into the region for its 2006 survey, adding Bulgaria and Romania for the first time in its five-year history.    This important survey is an annual public opinion poll examining American and European attitudes toward each other and about the world.  Approximately 1,000 people in each country were polled.  Bulgaria's inclusion in the survey was made possible with the help of the Tipping Point Foundation, a BTD donor.  With their EU accessions scheduled for early 2007, the inclusion of these countries allows analysts to document the impact of EU membership on public opinion toward foreign policy issues.  It also signifies the growing recognition of the Balkans' place in Europe.

Grantmaking Highlights

Fostering a Culture of Dialogue

The Centre for Development of Civil Society ‘MilenijuM' has launched the BTD-supported project, Start Negotiating!, enabling University students from Kosovo, Macedonia, and Serbia to discuss and debate political and intercultural matters. Interacting and working with their peers from differing cultures (often for the first time), these young leaders are learning the skills necessary for constructive negotiation, while also building a basis for future cooperation in a region recently characterized by deep divisions. The program consists of a series of exercises based on real life issues. Two types of negotiation events take place: international, with students from all three territories, and local, held for the students from each of the four main universities taking part, in Nis, Pristina, Skopje, and Tetovo.

The first international negotiation event was held in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia, from March 2-5 on the topic of "Regional Cooperation in Southeast Europe: Negotiating Agreement on Cultural Heritage in the Balkans." The 32 participants (8 students per university) were selected based on academic ability, positive attitude, and level of commitment to the program. Significantly, participants were asked to represent delegations that were not from their actual country of origin. The student evaluations, completed after each simulation, have been overwhelmingly positive.

As one participant learned following the first local event held in Skopje from June 23-25, "You can always find a common solution through a quality discussion, and everybody will be satisfied as long as there is will on both sides." A participant at the international simulation was similarly affected: "I learned that...it is wise to listen and respect the other side and their interests in order to find common language." After difficulties experienced by the Kosovar students in crossing into Serbia, the students agreed that not only will the next international simulation be held in Kosovo, so that all students will be able to attend, but also that the topic of discussion will be "Freedom of Movement in the Region." Participation of students from Bulgaria has also been confirmed, helping contribute to increased knowledge and cooperation of young people in the region and building open, multicultural societies.

Advancing Participation for Equity
Operating in the Bulgarian town of Gorna Oryahovitsa, Association Hope 2002 works to engage students in the decision-making of their local government. BTD supports their Small Municipal Council project that has created a model council comprised of young people of unequal social status - mostly Roma with minor physical or mental disabilities who attend the local school that falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Social Services, rather than Education, and as such does not offer its students a civic education curriculum. With the assistance of local Municipal Council members, however, the students have completed engaging civic education courses. They apply their newly acquired civic knowledge to their own Small Municipal Council, where they present statements, vote, and make decisions regarding their school, near environment, and town. They also visit the Municipal Council, where they take an active part, whether preparing questions for citizens or presenting proposals to Council members. The success of this project lies in the students' overwhelmingly active interest and participation in local affairs and the democratic process. George, one of the most dedicated members, admires Boiko Borisov, the mayor of Sofia, and now hopes to be a politician himself one day. The coordinator of the project, Plamena Goranova Gadjonova-Angelova, reports that the students' curiosity has resulted in questions not only regarding local politics, but national and international politics, as well. By encouraging marginalized groups to become more involved in political life, Association Hope 2002 aids the process of democratization in Bulgarian society.

Promoting Transparency and Accountability

Domestic violence is a serious problem in Romania, with sixty-eight percent of women stating that they have been affected. Despite the existence of laws to combat and alleviate the problem, basic services, such as shelters, remain lacking. With BTD support, Romanian NGO APoWeR has developed a monitoring program that has already monitored 255 of Romania's central and local institutions authorized to intervene in domestic violence cases. Fourteen monitors from NGOs were trained to effectively track the implementation of the law that aims to prevent domestic violence. The monitoring program intermediately found that enforcement of domestic violence laws is not strong enough, and public institutions do not cooperate sufficiently with the law guaranteeing free access to information of public interest. A group of specialists including lawyers, police officers, social workers, and others will propose a set of regulations, procedures, and recommendations that correspond to current needs and realities. Through a media campaign in newspapers, radio, and TV, the public has been informed of the efforts and findings of APoWeR's program. With greater public awareness of these issues and the dissemination of recommendations to public institutions, intervention in domestic violence situations will continue to progress.

Partnership

BTD-grantee ProConcept, together with The William Davidson Institute, co-hosted the conference "Civil Society and Business: Bridging the Gap" from July 6-9 in Belgrade. With donor funding becoming increasingly competitive, civil society organizations must seek out new ways to ensure financial sustainability. The BTD-funded conference brought together 30 civil society leaders from 10 countries in the region to share best-practices and strategies for fostering the growth of revenue-generating enterprises and public-private partnerships. Participants also took part in the technical assistance component of the conference, where they learned about key business topics and tools, such as feasibility studies, business and marketing plans, and social capital. One conclusion from the event was that civil society organizations could develop strong partnerships by creating a Board of Directors made up of private-sector representatives. The William Davidson Institute and ProConcept will not only hold follow-up conferences and business training events, but will continue working with several participant organizations to assist them as they develop social enterprise strategies.

Reconciliation

Bosnian NGO Refugee Return Service has assisted hundreds of displaced persons to return to their homes after conflict. In an effort to promote continued public debate on peace, truth, justice, and reconciliation within the region, RRS produced a documentary on the first ten years of implementation of the Dayton Agreement. This is intended as an educational tool to familiarize audiences on the successes and flaws of this crucial peace agreement. Finally, the documentary will promote the role of civil society actors in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement.

The documentary aired on the Bosnian satellite television station, BN, which covers the entire Balkan region and is also available in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The showing sparked wide public debate, achieving RRS's goal of bringing the subject to the public, and additionally ensuring that BN will re-air the program several times. Viewings were also held for academic audiences at universities in Belgrade and Banja Luka as well as at public projections sponsored by the United Nations Development Program and the United States Agency for International Development in Sarajevo. Future broadcasts are planned on other national television stations located in Bosnia and Serbia.

RRS also hosted a meeting with representatives from NGOs in Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia focusing on shortcomings and opportunities in the implementation of the Dayton Accord regarding the return of refugees.

Linking Grantmaking to Policy Work 

Supporting Local Efforts to Combat Voter Apathy
On October 1 Bosnians will come to the polls to vote in both presidential and parliamentary elections in what will be the first general elections completely administered by national authorities.  This is an important test for the country, as free and fair elections and political stabilization are necessary components of Euroatlantic integration.  This election also marks the trial of a revised election law.  With voter apathy at an all-time high (Election Day turnout is currently estimated at only 40 percent), civil society organizations are stepping up efforts to ensure that the upcoming elections properly reflect the people's will.  BTD supports the efforts of six nonpartisan, nongovernmental organizations to increase voter turnout and raise voters' faith in the election results. 

Among these six, International Youth Association, Sarajevo (IAM Sarajevo), NGO Spring (Izvor), and Plava Sfera target small, rural communities working with local election monitors who enjoy the trust and respect of their neighbors. Complementing their activities are the Civil Society Promotion Centre (CSPS), Foundation for Creative Development (FKR), and Association for Information Sciences Promotion (INFOHOUSE), each of which employs innovative get-out-the-vote tactics to reach youths and citizens in neighborhoods where voter participation is particularly low.  INFOHOUSE has launched a media campaign that gathers popular Bosnian personalities to answer the question, "Why will you vote this time?"  By choosing the celebrities and voting for their favorite answer, the public will become actively involved in this national event.

Together, these innovative projects add a fresh dimension to the election process, encouraging people to take an active role in determining the future course of their country.